Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-04-22
PedIers.

1t is getting to be practice OF all KINDS
of pedlers of all descriptions, to seek their
nights lodgings with farmers. In fact, the
owners of large establishments, who send
out pedlers, direct them when possible to
stay all night in the country, so that 1t Will
not cost half much, and in most cases
payment can be made in some frivolous ar
ticle at enormous prices. We would not
say "A word to induce a farmer to turn from
his door weary traveller. Take them in
when it is not evident that they avoided
hotels to live cheaper. Hotel keeping is
not the farmers business while justice and
fair dealing, if they keep pedlers, insur-
ance agents. machine men, etc, demand
that farmers charge the same as the village
hotel then they cannot be charged with
cutting under and the hotel will be able to |
get along better, and the farmer be ena-
bled to attend to his legitimate business.
Farmers are disposed to esteem too light
" the expense and trouble of keeping
traveller over night, and generally charge
not over one fourth of the real price. Gen
orally farmers wives have but one spare
bed, and that the best. This has to be Civ
en- up to the pedler, no matter how dirty,
and regardless of the vermin or disease he
may carry about him. The bedclothes have
to be washed and the room cleansed. His
horses, if he has any, have to be provided
with the very best, if part of the farmers
horses have to be turned into a lot during
the night Grain has to be furnished pro
fusely. In the morning the bill is asked
for The farmer says he makes no charge,
but he can pay the wife what he has mind
to- If a pedler he will hand out IA skein of
thread, a handkerchief, or a daub of pic
ture, either of which cost not over three
cents. If the traveller be a sewing machine
or an insurance agent he will take out
ten or "A twenty dollar bill, and direct the
bill to be taken out of that The farmer has
no change, and tells him to go. At other
times these pedlers call on farmers and in
form them they have long been anxious to
call on them-that they had heard a great
deal said about his farm, his hogs or his
cattle, and now, while in the vicinity, they
have thus turned aside from their journey
to do him the honor of seeing that which
his industry, Judgment and taste had made
his location so well known. After their
compliments of course the farmer could
not charge, and the traveller would not
wound the noble farmers feelings by allu-
sion to any such sordid consideration as
paying for his lodgings.
If they are from circumstances compelled
to stay with farmers, charging them the
full price charged at the hotel is no injus
tice or oppression. Then it will somewhat
compensate for the Inconvenience farmers
are frequently put to, will aid in cleaning
the spare room and bed, pay for the grain
fed to horses, and it will thus throw th'
business where it belongs, to the neighbor
ing hotel keepers, who, being prepared
can do it cheaper than the farmers. Then
too, by this system many of the strong
athletic men who are strolling over tn
country, peddling the most trifing notions
or books, or patent swindling machines
will be compelled to quit the business, o
change their operations to neighborhood
where the farmers have not cut their wis
dom teeth. Charge full price in money
they attempt the big bill game, retain tn
large bill until they pay the amount. /
such cases they will finally discover tina
they have the change.
While there is something in the ahov
advice, given by the American Cutivato
which farmers would do well to heed, IL
tone of the article is rather belttling
them as a class The one spare bed, an
that the best one, which the pedler, III
always very clean, is permitted to occup
is II matter that would sometimes get
different version if the pedler himself To
the story, There are plenty of farm hous
where the wife could use her discretiC
about the kind of bed she would assign h
guests. In many farm houses the ente
tainment is better than that of an avera
village hotel yet, it is true, class
agents, peders, etc. when they are ente
tanned at farm house expect TO pay on
fraction of what it would cost them at
hotel When a Jewish pedler pays in goo
his living costs him hardly more than
regular tramps, But all people who a
for nights lodging at a farm house a
not of this class, There are those who a
always willing to pay fair price for val
received and there is no reason why
farmer should not be paid according to t
value of the entertainment when he Civ
Sometimes, though rarely, the fault is
the other side-the guest is charged hi
price for poor fare